Convertible ironing assistance table



Aug. 25, 1964 l. PANTAZOS CONVERTIBLE IRONING ASSISTANCE TABLE Filed Nov. 20, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 l2 r "I ullLll J 20 y 22 38 l A Fig. 2 3 INVENTOR.

IWA N NE PANTAZOS g- 1964 l. PANTAZOS CONVERTIBLE momma ASSISTANCE TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 20, 1962 1 1||b| lllllll lliil llllll I Fig. 3

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INVEN TOR.

IWANNE FANTAZOS BY jam: 1 56 United States Patent 3,145,668 CONVERTIBLE IRONING ASSISTANCE TABLE Iwanne Pantazos, 520 E St., San Diego 1, Calif. Filed Nov. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 239,030 4 Claims. (Cl. 108-93) The present invention relates generally to a convertible table and more particularly to a convertible table for use with an ironing board.

When ironing material having extensive surface area such as draperies, table linen and the like it is frequently necessary to provide auxiliary support for such material to prevent it from becoming soiled by accidental contact with the floor. Previous supports of this character have been largely ineffective due to excessive manufacturing costs, inadequate built-in stresses resulting in flimsiness and instability and complex design. Furthermore they are of such construction that they would be of no value as a utility table when used apart from the ironing board.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide a convertible table which has particular utility, when used with an ironing board, to effectively support the material being ironed and prevent it from contact with the floor.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a convertible table which can be easily connected to and disconnected from any ironing board of standard construction.

It is a still further object of this invention to provide a convertible table which is aesthetically and structurally suitable for employment as a utility table when not being used in combination with an ironing board.

Finally it is an object to provide a convertible table of the aforementioned character which is simple and convenient to use and which will give generally efiicient and durable service.

With these and other objects definitely in view, this invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements and portions, as will be hereinafter fully described in the specification, particularly pointed out in the claims, and illustrated in the drawings which form a material part of this disclosure, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of my convertible table;

FIGURE 2 is a view showing how the table is associated with an ironing board when used as a material support therefor;

FIGURE 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a top plan View of my convertible table.

My convertible table is indicated generally by the reference numberal 20 and includes a top 22 supported in the usual manner by four legs 24. The legs are preferably adjustable in length to provide varying heights for the table and this may be accomplished in any well known manner. As shown each leg comprises an outer section 26 and an inner telescoped section 28. A conventional latch 30 on the outer section cooperates with one of a series of holes 32 in the inner section 28 to provide an adjustable support for the table top 22. Each leg 24 may, if desired, be hinged to the under side of the table top as at 34 so that when the table is not in use the legs may be folded up against the bottom surface thereof in a manner well known in the art. Locking brackets 36 retain the legs in their fully extended open position.

Table top 22 is provided on one end thereof, with an elongated slot 38 extending less than half the length of the table the purpose of which will be hereinafter explained. As will be clearly seen from FIGURES 1 and 4 the axial center of this slot is offset slightly laterally 3,145,668 Patented Aug. 25, 1964 "ice from the longitudinal center line of the table top 22 to provide a narrow top section 41 and a wide top section 43. A slidable closure member 40 is mounted on the underside of the table top 22 by guide rails 42 mounted on opposite edges of said slot as shown in FIGURE 3. It will be apparent that closure member 40 may be positioned so that slot 38 is fully exposed as shown in FIG- URE 2 or completely covered as shown in FIGURE 4. Locking bar means 44 spans the open end of slot 38 and is pivotally mounted on the end of the table top at 46. Headed stud 48 engages slot 50 to hold bar 44 in operative position across the slot 38 as shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1. It is obvious that a slidable locking bar means could be used to close the open end of slot 38 rather than a pivotal bar as shown.

Operation To assemble my convertible table with a conventional ironing board legs 24 are first extended to the desired length. Locking bar 44 is dropped to the position shown in solid lines in FIGURE 1 and closure member 40 is retracted to expose the full length of slot 38. The table can now be positioned underneath an ironing board 10 with the portions 41 and 43 straddling one set of legs 14 of the ironing board as shown in FIGURE 2. Locking bar 44 is then moved into position with slot 50 engaging headed stud 48, as shown in dotted lines in FIG- URE 1. Ironing board 10 and table 20 are now combined as an operational unit. Locking bar 44 prevents accidental displacement of the table from the ironing board but due to the clearance between the slot 38 and legs 14 some freedom of movement is permitted. It should be noted that the table 20 is assembled with the narrow portion 41 on the side of the ironing board that is used by the operator. The wide portion 43 will then be located on the opposite side and in a position to receive garments or material that are moved over the ironing board in the process of pressing. It will be readily apparent that the material being ironed can be folded on table top 22 and soiling of the material through accidental contact with the floor is prevented.

Removal of the table from the ironing board is accomplished by unlatching the locking bar 44 and moving the table 20 to the left as viewed in FIGURE 2. When used as an utility or general purpose table the closure member 40 is moved over to cover the slot 38 as shown in FIGURE 4.

It is understood that minor variations from the form of the invention disclosed herein may be made without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention; and that the specification and drawing are to be considered as merely illustrative rather than limiting.

I claim:

1. An ironing assistance table having at least two side edges and two end edges, a comparatively narrow and deep slot extending from one of said end edges toward the other of said end edges, said slot being adjacent to one of said longitudinal side edges, the depth of said slot being several times its width and being thereby proportioned to receive the legs of a leg-supported ironing board to place a substantial portion of the surface of the ironing board above said table in longitudinal alignment therewith, guide means beneath said table and being disposed parallel to said side edges, and extending longitudinally beneath said table beyond the inner end of said slot, a closure means slidably carried in said guide means and adapted to selectively close and open said slot, and a locking means secured to said table and adapted to selectively overlie the end of said slot adjacent said one end edge.

2. The table defined in claim 1 wherein said locking means comprises a bar pivotally secured at one end thereof to said one end edge for movement between an operative and inoperative position, a recess in said bar disposed in the end thereof opposite said one end, and a projecting member secured to said one end edge for engaging said recess when said bar is moved into said operative position.

3. The table defined in claim 1 further including a plurality of supporting legs secured to said table, each of said legs having an extendable telescopic section therein whereby the height of said table may be adjustable.

4. The table defined in claim 3 wherein said supporting legs are pivotally secured to said table for folding the same into inoperative position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Ostern Sept. 30, 1913 Miller Feb. 8, 1949 Baker Nov. 1, 1949 Till Apr. 10, 1951 Montgomery et al Mar. 13, 1956 Brand et a1 May 22, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 9, 1960 

1. AN IRONING ASSISTANCE TABLE HAVING AT LEAST TWO SIDE EDGES AND TWO END EDGES, A COMPARATIVELY NARROW AND DEEP SLOT EXTENDING FROM ONE OF SAID END EDGES TOWARD THE OTHER OF SAID END EDGES, SAID SLOT BEING ADJACENT TO ONE OF SAID LONGITUDINAL SIDE EDGES, THE DEPTH OF SAID SLOT BEING SEVERAL TIMES ITS WIDTH AND BEING THEREBY PROPORTIONED TO RECEIVE THE LEGS OF A LEG-SUPPORTED IRONING BOARD TO PLACE A SUBSTANTIAL PORTION OF THE SURFACE OF THE IRONING BOARD ABOVE SAID TABLE IN LONGITUDINAL ALIGNMENT THEREWITH, GUIDE MEANS BENEATH SAID TABLE AND BEING DISPOSED PARALLEL TO SAID SIDE EDGES, AND EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY BENEATH SAID TABLE BEYOND THE INNER END OF SAID SLOT, A CLOSURE MEANS SLIDABLY CARRIED IN SAID GUIDE MEANS AND ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY CLOSE AND OPEN SAID SLOT, AND A LOCKING MEANS SECURED TO SAID TABLE AND ADAPTED TO SELECTIVELY OVERLIE THE END OF SAID SLOT ADJACENT SAID ONE END EDGE. 